shrug-privacy

Shrug: Group Decider – Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 1, 2026

Shrug helps a group decide on something together. It has no accounts, no ads, and no tracking.

We don’t ask for your name, email, phone number, contacts, photos, camera, microphone, or location.

Solo mode keeps everything on your phone.

Group sessions temporarily store the session’s title, options and votes in Apple’s iCloud (CloudKit) so everyone in the group can take part. The app deletes this data when the session is finished.

How a group session works

The host creates a session. The title, options, emoji and a 6-character join code are saved to Apple’s iCloud (CloudKit), along with a random app ID that marks the host.
Others join with the code. They can see the title and options. Anyone who has the code can do this, so keep the code to people you trust.
Each person votes. Their votes are saved to iCloud with their random app ID.
The host reveals the result. The app adds up the votes and saves only the totals and the number of voters.
Everyone sees the result. Each person’s phone then deletes that person’s own votes, and the host’s phone deletes the session shortly after the host leaves the results screen.

You need to be signed in to iCloud on your device to host or join a group session. Solo mode never leaves your phone. The first time you host or join, the app shows you a short notice explaining this.

Who we are

Shrug: Group Decider (“Shrug”, “the app”) is made by Tejash Patel (“we”, “us”). You can reach us at tejash.apps@gmail.com.

What we collect

We only handle data that is needed to run a group session, and only while the session is running:

Session content: the title you give the session, the options you add (for example restaurant or movie names), the emoji for the category, the 6-character join code, and whether the host has closed voting.
Votes: each person’s score for each option (yes, shrug or no) in a session they joined. When the host reveals the result, the app saves only the totals for each option.
A random app ID: the first time you open Shrug, the app creates a random identifier on your phone. It marks which votes are yours so you can’t vote twice, and it is saved with your votes and with sessions you host. It is not your name, your Apple ID, or your device ID.
iCloud identifier: when the app saves to iCloud, Apple adds an anonymous, app-specific identifier connected to your iCloud account. We can’t use it to see your name, email or Apple ID.

What we don’t collect

No name, email address, phone number, or Apple ID
No location, contacts, photos, camera or microphone data
No advertising identifiers, analytics, or third-party tracking tools

How we use it

Only to make the app work: showing the options to everyone with the join code, counting the votes, showing the result, and preventing duplicate votes. We don’t sell data, share it for advertising, or use it to track you.

Where it’s stored

Group session data is stored in Apple’s iCloud (CloudKit) in a database that belongs to the app. Apple’s own privacy practices apply to that storage. Group sessions need an iCloud account on your device.

Important: anyone who has a session’s join code can open the session and see its title, options and votes. Please don’t put private or sensitive information in a session’s title or options.

Solo mode doesn’t use iCloud. Your options and votes stay on your phone and disappear when you close the session.

Pasting a list

If you tap “Paste a list” when creating a session, the app reads your clipboard at that moment to add the lines as options. It doesn’t read the clipboard at any other time.

When you tap “Share result”, the app makes a picture of the winner on your phone and opens the standard iOS share sheet. What you do with that picture is up to you.

How long we keep it

We don’t keep session data. Each person’s phone deletes their own votes as soon as they have seen the result, and the host’s phone deletes the session when the host leaves the results screen. If the app is closed or offline before this finishes, it completes the deletion the next time it is opened. If someone deletes the app or never opens it again before cleanup finishes, some data from that session may remain in iCloud until we remove it. The random app ID stays on your phone until you delete the app.

Deleting your data

To have a session’s data removed, email us at tejashbpatel@gmail.com with the join code and we’ll delete it. Deleting the app removes the random app ID from your phone.

Crash reports

If you’ve chosen to share app analytics with developers in your iPhone’s settings, Apple may give us anonymous crash reports. We use them only to fix bugs.

Children

Shrug is not directed at children under 13, and we don’t knowingly collect personal information from them.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we’ll update the date at the top of this page.

Your phone keeps a short list of your recent group Shrugs (title, options and result) so you can come back to them. This list stays only on your phone and is never uploaded. You can delete any entry from the My Shrugs screen.

Contact : Tejash.apps@gmail.com

Questions? Email tejashbpatel@gmail.com.